In his first decision after assuming office, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday approved a hike in scholarship given to widows and wards of deceased or ex-service personnel of armed and paramilitary forces from National Defence Fund and extended its ambit to include wards of state police officials martyred in terror or Maoist attacks.
The rates of scholarship have been increased from Rs 2000per month to Rs 2500 per month for boys and from Rs 2250 per month to Rs 3000per month for girls, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.
“The ambit of the Scholarship Scheme is extended to thewards of state police officials who are/were martyred during terror/naxalattacks,” it said.
As many 500 individuals will be able to avail the quota forstate police officials every year. “Our government’s first decision dedicatedto those who protect India. Major changes approved in PM’s Scholarship Schemeunder the National Defence Fund including enhanced scholarships for wards ofpolice personnel martyred in terror or Maoist attacks,” Modi tweeted.
“In line with the Prime Minister’s vision for India’ssafety, security and the well-being of those who protect the nation, the veryfirst decision of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on assuming his office isapproval to a major change in the Prime Minister’s Scholarship Scheme under theNational Defence Fund,” the PMO said.
Under National Defence Fund, the Prime Minister’sscholarship scheme (PMSS) is being implemented to encourage technical andpost-graduate education for widows and wards of the deceased, ex-servicepersonnel of Armed Forces and Para Military Forces and Railway ProtectionForce.
Scholarships are mainly given for medical, engineering, MBA,MCA and other equivalent technical courses. Every year new scholarships are given for 5,500wards of armed forces controlled by Ministry of Defence, for 2000 wards ofparamilitary forces controlled by Ministry of Home Affairs and for 150 wards offorces controlled by Ministry of Railways.